What Two Fashion Insiders Based in Portland, Oregon, Wear to Work

HER JOB: Gretchen Jones, 33, is the women's wear design director at Pendleton Woolen Mills, the textiles brand—but you may also know her as the season-eight winner of *Project Runway. *"My dad was a rancher in Colorado, and we wore Pendleton as kids," she says. "Now I get to help modernize the brand in a way that's still accessible and authentic."

HER LOOK HERE: "As I've taken on a director role, I've grown out of my bohemian side and integrated more tailoring into my aesthetic. I'm a boss now, so I try to dress in a way that's refined but still creative. Think: if Ralph Lauren had a baby with Isabel Marant."

HER COLOR EXPERIMENT: "Color is really important to the way I dress and identify with the world; it's also a huge part of Pendleton's DNA. When I first started here, I challenged myself to wear only neutrals. Why? Stripping color from my wardrobe let me hit reset, step outside my own style, and reexamine how our brand should approach color."

HER JOB: Laura Parrett, 32, is a footwear designer at Nike; she creates men's and women's training shoes, overseeing every detail. "I sketch sneakers with a Sharpie and a highlighter, so I always envision shoes with bright volts of neon," she says.

HER LOOK HERE: "I'd never wear workout clothes to my desk, but I do love mixing athletic performance gear with more fashion-forward pieces. It's effortless but still dressed up."

HER SNEAKER COLLECTION: "I did a closet count and would say I'm up to about 200 pairs. I'm sample size, so it's a little too easy to get whatever style I want."

HER SPORTY-CHIC STYLE: "I try to balance athletic with professional. Almost everyone wears sneakers here, but I'll pair them with a nice dress like this—and no socks unless I'm exercising."

HER GET-THE-JOB ADVICE: "I knew Nike was where I wanted to work. A college recruiter was running late for her flight, so I gave her my portfolio as she walked out and said, If you like what you see, get in touch.' I was hired right away."